Running-gear for vehicles



(No Model.)

J. G. EBKEN. K RUNNING GEAR 130R VEHICLES.

Patented Dec.- 5, 1882.

Jhvenfivr: @313 UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrci JOHN G. EBKEN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

RUNNING-GEAR FO R VEHICL ES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,391, dated December 5, 1882.

Application filed February 27, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN G. EBKEN, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Front Gearin g of Wheeled Vehicles, which will be readily understood from the following description, taken in connectiouwith the accompanying drawing, representing a perspective View of so much of the front gearing of a light wagon provided with my improvement as is necessary to a full comprehension of the invention.

By reference to the drawing it will be seen that the spring-bar A, together with the spring B and head-block O, is of the ordinary pattern, and that they are secured in position with respect to each other by means of common clips, after the manner usual'in such cases. These parts are arran ged upon and bolted to the circleplate D, or upper half of a fifth-wheel, which, for convenience, is made of malleable cast-iron, and, in addition to its annular form, is provided with two outwardly-projecting lugs, to a, constituting the side parts of a strong hinge. Rising from the circular plate D, just back of these lugs, is a vertical oblong socket, E, into which is pivoted one end of a short iron barJ', its other end reaching upward and terminating in a small box or square sleeve, 1), and made adjustable therein by means of suitable pinchscrews, cc. Extending downward into the same box or sleeve, and so as to fit snugly alongside of the first-mentioned bar f, yet admitting of an easy up-and-down movement, is a similarlysized bar, g, having its upper end flared out into 'a T shape, so that it may be easily made fast, by suitable bolts or rivets, 'i i, to a long iron reach, F, the forward end of which is turned down and securely bolted to the middle portion of the spring-bar A, from which point it conti nues backward in a horizontal line underneath the body of the vehicle until it engages with the wooden cross piece G at or near the center of the wagon. Bolted to the under side of this long iron reach F, and at a suitable position forward of the wooden crosspiece G, is a downwardly-projecting V-shaped bracket, H, the lower extremity of which forms a hinge, K, carrying one end of a short rod, L, having a (No model.)

right hand thread or screw, S, that fits into one part of a long nut, T. The other part of this nut is provided with a left-hand thread or screw, engaging a corresponding screw, R, on one end of a similar rod, V, hinged to the annular turn-plate D of the fifth wheel. The double nut, when turned in one direction,draws on both rods alike and brings the parts together, keeping them perfectly taut, and is used for taking up any unnecessary looseness that may occur in the working parts, so that they may occupy the proper relative position with respect to each other and the several portions of the wagon. By turning the nut in a reverse direction the rods may be separated and the parts readily removed.

This mode of coupling entirely dispenses with the use of the old-fashioned reach extending from axle to axle,'and permits the front wheels to be brought around directly underneath the body of the wagon, admitting of a very short turn. It also allows of a free and easy up-and-down'movement of the body in a vertical plane, and prevents undue wrenching or straining of the spring or other parts of the structure.

What I claim is- 1. The circle-plate D, formed with lugsav a, and socket E, in combination with sleeve 1), screws 6, vertical bars f and g, reach F, bracket H, hinged rods L V, and right-and-left-hand screw-nut T, as shown and described.

2. The circle-plate D, formed with lugs a a, and socket E, SIGEWB I), and adjustable bars f g, head-block 0, spring B, and bar A, in combination with reach F, provided with bracket H, placed so as to allow the front wheels to turn in behind it, hinged rods L V, and adj ust- 

